FAMILIES are being urged to abide by safety rules as they flock to Bahrain’s popular camping site in Sakhir during weekends.
While the official camping season was cancelled due to Covid-19 two years ago, visitors have been pouring into the desert over the past few months to take advantage of the cool weather and escape from the city buzz.
Many of them were also spotted setting up mini-tents and cooking on portable gas stoves.
The Southern Governorate said it has intensified awareness drives and inspection campaigns to ensure people’s safety.
Officials have started distributing first aid kits and fire extinguishers to visitors while garbage cans and recycling containers have been set up at the most frequented spots.
“People go to the desert to enjoy the beautiful weather and take a breather from their daily routines, the last thing anyone wants is for it to end in tragedy,” Southern Municipal Council chairman Bader Al Tamimi told the GDN.
He claimed that extensive campaigns have led to a significant drop in accidents over the last many years. However, no statistics were revealed in this regard.
“The most common camping injuries are from fires or from vehicle accidents caused by children wandering off onto the highways,” he said.
“Inspectors have been instructing people about safe use of portable gas burners and barbecues.”
Flyers are being distributed as citizens are urged to set up camp at least 50m away from roads and 150m away from high pressure oil and gas pipelines.
Mr Al Tamimi added that the responsibility was huge as the Southern Governorate represented two-thirds of Bahrain – from Isa Town to Hawar and from East Sitra to Zallaq.
“The campaign has been made more effective due to clear and direct communication with residents and visitors,” the Southern Governorate said in a statement. “It is part of a framework promoting community partnership and personal responsibility.”
These measures have been taken following directives from Southern Governor Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali Al Khalifa, and as a joint effort between the Southern Municipality, the Civil Defence and Southern Governorate Police Directorate.
The governorate cancelled the 2020-2021 camping season after consultation with the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (Covid-19). The season typically lasts between November until March, where campers and businesses alike register at the Campers’ Service Centre to acquire permits. The last camping season was 2019-2020, where more than 2,100 sites were registered.
The desert is transformed annually into a carnival with games, entertainment and food stalls, all co-ordinated by the Supreme Camping Season Committee which was established in 2003. The committee also issues advisories and publishes maps indicating dedicated camping places, forbidden areas, areas liable to flooding, and the locations of garbage containers.
A study conducted last year by the Bahrain Centre for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (Derasat) revealed that the Covid-19 pandemic in Bahrain has helped nature heal with improved air quality and decreased CO2 emissions.
This allowed new plants to grow in the area, the research revealed.
zainab@gdn.com.bh
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